• Donsin airport project enters new phase after contract termination

• Delays tied to design flaws, weak contracts, and contractor performance

• Authorities aim to relaunch project on stronger technical and financial footing

Burkina Faso is reassessing the long-delayed Ouagadougou-Donsin International Airport project, following years of technical, contractual, and financial setbacks.

At a press briefing held over the weekend, the Société des Aéroports du Faso (SAFA) outlined the current status of the project and the steps being taken to bring it to completion.

Launched in 2017 and structured into 26 components—15 of which are financed by the state and its partners—the project has reached a significant level of execution. Several key infrastructures have already been completed, including the runway, main access roads, a water tower, and some administrative buildings. According to SAFA, these elements provide a solid technical base for continuing the works.

However, the project has faced major challenges. Shortcomings in initial studies, weaknesses in contract structuring, and the underperformance of certain contractors have all contributed to delays.

A reset after the concession dispute

Tensions around the project escalated in August 2023, when Burkina Faso terminated the operating concession granted to French groups Meridiam and AMP. Authorities criticized the agreement as unbalanced, citing a 30-year concession period for a financial contribution estimated at only about 20% of the total project cost.

Additional concerns were raised over tax arrangements seen as unfavorable to the state, as well as alleged shortcomings in compliance with civil aviation standards. The situation was further strained by a construction accident in late 2022 that resulted in fatalities.

In response, SAFA launched a technical audit to assess existing infrastructure and define a new roadmap. The objective is to address identified weaknesses and relaunch the project on more solid foundations, aligned with the government’s strategic priorities.

Once completed, the new airport—intended to replace the Ouagadougou-Taamsê facility built in the 1960s—is expected to handle around one million passengers per year. According to the West African Development Bank (BOAD), it will be capable of accommodating wide-body aircraft, improving the competitiveness of Burkina Faso’s air transport sector, and supporting economic development in surrounding areas.

Henoc Dossa